Continuous film laminating and delaminating system

ABSTRACT

A system which enables a film, e.g. a photosensitive material film, to be continuously laminated on and delaminated from a surface of a substrate, e.g. a hologram original plate, and allows duplication to be continuously effected. The system includes a film supply part (32) for supplying a film (1), a film laminating part (37) for continuously laminating the supplied film (1) on a film laminating substrate (35), a film delaminating part (37&#39;) for continuously delaminating the film from the substrate (35), and a film take-up part (43) for taking up the delaminated film. In the system, no air bubbles are trapped when the film (1) is laminated on the substrate (35), and no peel unevenness, e.g. undesired line, occurs when the film (1) is delaminated from the substrate (35). The system is suitable for use in a hologram duplicating apparatus, a dimple relief pattern duplicating apparatus, a microscopic test sample preparing apparatus, etc.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a continuous film laminating anddelaminating system. More particularly, the present invention relates toa system in which a film, e.g. a molding film, a photosensitive materialfilm, a pressure-sensitive adhesive film, etc. is continuously laminatedon and delaminated from a surface of a substrate, e.g. a duplicateplate, a hologram original plate, etc.

Conventional techniques will be explained below by taking the case of ahologram duplicating method in particular.

Duplication of a hologram original plate has heretofore been performedby applying laser light to the hologram original plate placed in closecontact with a photosensitive material so that diffracted light from theoriginal plate and the incident light interfere with each other in thephotosensitive material, thereby recording a hologram image of theoriginal plate in the photosensitive material. In this process, in orderto prevent the disorder of the image due to the back reflectioncomponent produced by reflection at the reverse surface of thephotosensitive material, an index matching liquid that is substantiallyequal to the original plate in refractive index is interposed betweenthe original plate and the photosensitive material, thereby enhancingthe adhesion and thus preventing back reflection during the duplicationof the hologram image.

Incidentally, the index matching liquid, which is interposed between thehologram original plate and the photosensitive material, is a thickliquid and difficult to apply with a uniform thickness because offluidity, thickness unevenness, vibration, etc. In particular, when alarge amount of index matching liquid is applied, it is impossible toeffect favorable duplication of a hologram due to the flow of the indexmatching liquid. Even if duplication of a hologram is carried out in aclean room, dust particles of 10 μm or less in diameter may get mixed inthe contact layer structure. If duplication is carried out with dustparticles mixed in the contact layer structure, the dust particlesundesirably lift the film of photosensitive material and causeduplicating defects due to the flow of the index matching liquid aroundthe dust particles.

To solve such problems, Japanese Patent Application No. 4-327918proposes a duplicating method and apparatus wherein a cushioning layeris used to bury dust particles to thereby reduce the incidence ofduplicating defects. However, the proposed duplicating method andapparatus still suffer from problems in terms of durability and soforth.

In view of the above-described problems of the conventional technique,Japanese Patent Application No. 5-212954 discloses a system in which afilm, e.g. a photosensitive material film, is continuously and surelybrought into contact with a surface of a substrate, e.g. a hologramoriginal plate, and it is continuously delaminated from the substratesurface.

The invention in the above-mentioned application will be explained belowby way of an example in which it is applied to duplication of ahologram. It will, however, be clear from the following explanation thatthe use application of the system according to the invention is notnecessarily limited to duplication of a hologram, but the system mayalso be applied to duplication of a relief pattern, preparation of asample of a microscopic specimen, etc.

Duplication of a hologram is carried out as shown in FIG. 1(a). That is,a photosensitive material film 1 is brought into close contact with asurface of a hologram original plate 5 through an index matching liquid6 having a refractive index substantially equal to that of the originalplate 5. Then, laser light 7 is applied from the photosensitive materialfilm side (or from the hologram original plate side, as described later)so that the light 7 and diffracted light 8 from the original plate 5interfere with each other in the photosensitive material film 1, therebyrecording a hologram image in the photosensitive material film 1. Thephotosensitive material film 1 for hologram recording, which is made ofa photopolymer or the like, is usually composed of 3 layers, that is, abase film 3, a photosensitive material 2, and a base film 4. If minutedust particles 9 are mixed in the contact layer structure when thephotosensitive material film 1 is brought into close contact with thehologram original plate 5, the dust particles 9 undesirably lift thefilm 1 and cause duplicating defects due to the flow of the indexmatching liquid 6 around the dust particles 9.

Therefore, the base film 3 that is closer to the original plate 5 ispeeled off to expose the photosensitive material layer 2, which is aviscoelastic material, and the photosensitive material layer 2 islaminated directly on the original plate 5, as shown in FIG. 1(b),thereby burying the dust particles 9 in the layer 2, and thus making itpossible to reduce the incidence of duplicating defects.

In this process, it is preferable to remove dust particles from the basefilms 3 and 4 by using gum rollers, as a matter of course. It is alsopreferable to use a static eliminator (ionized air spray, coronadischarge, etc.) in order to suppress adsorption of dust particles dueto static electricity generated when the base film 3 is peeled off.

In Japanese Patent Application No. 5-212954, however, the duplication iscarried out by intermittently feeding the film 1 onto the original plate5 in theory because the original plate 5 is in planar form.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention was made in order to solve the problem of JapanesePatent Application No. 5-212954, proposed by the present applicant, thatduplication cannot be effected continuously but intermittently only.Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to enable a film,e.g. a photosensitive material film, to be continuously laminated on anddelaminated from a surface of a substrate, e.g. a hologram originalplate, and to allow duplication to be continuously effected by formingthe surface of such a substrate into a cylindrical configuration.

To attain the above-described object, the present invention provides anarrangement in which the hologram original plate 5 is fixed on thecylindrical surface of a cylinder, and the hologram surface of theoriginal plate is protected by a substrate having release properties.

Original plates applicable as the hologram original plate 5 are thosewhich comprise a flexible substrate made of a silver halide material, abichromated gelatin material, a photopolymer material, etc. The hologramoriginal plate 5 is preferably made of a material which has a refractiveindex close to that of the photosensitive material film 1 for hologramrecording, and which is less birefringent.

Incidentally, if air bubbles are trapped when the photosensitivematerial film 1 with one base film 3 peeled therefrom is laminateddirectly on the original plate 5 (original plate cylinder 5 in thepresent invention), as shown in FIG. 1(b), the trapped air bubbles willlead to duplicating defects. According to the present invention,therefore, the photosensitive material film 1 is sequentially broughtinto close contact with the original plate 5 by using a pressure roller.With regard to the diameter of the pressure roller and the film pass, asystem as shown in FIG. 2(b) is preferable to a system as shown in FIG.2(a). That is, it is preferable that the diameter of the roller 10should be relatively small, while the film winding angle Θ should berelatively large. More specifically, the diameter of the roller 10 ispreferably as small as 100 mm or less, more preferably about 50 mm.Because the roller 10 may be deflected, it is preferable to applypressure to the roller 10 by using another roller having a relativelylarge diameter. The film winding angle Θ is preferably not smaller than90°. The pressure of the roller 10 and the tension of the film 1 arealso preferably set at relatively high levels: That is, the rollerpressure is preferably not lower than 0.1 kgf/cm², and the film tensionis preferably not lower than 0.1 kgf/cm.

When laser light is used to duplicate the original plate 5, it ispreferable to use an anti-reflection coated glass or film for thepurpose of eliminating noise due to the back reflection of the incidentlight. In the case of a reflection hologram original plate 5, it ispreferable to carry out optical duplicating process using a layerconfiguration such as that shown in FIG. 3(a), which is composed, inorder from the laser light incidence side, of an anti-reflection coatedglass 11, an index matching liquid 12, a base film 4, a photosensitivematerial 2, a hologram original plate 5, and a light-absorbing material13. In the case of a transmission hologram original plate 5, it ispreferable to perform optical duplicating process using a layerconfiguration which is composed, as shown in FIG. 3(b), of ananti-reflection coated glass 11, a hologram original plate 5, aphotosensitive material 2, and a base film 4. The base film 4 ispreferably an optical absorption film or an anti-reflection coated film.It should be noted that in the case of a reflection hologram originalplate 5, another anti-reflection coated glass 11 may be disposed inplace of the light-absorbing material 13 to prevent back reflection oflight passing through the original plate 5.

It is also preferable to add an ionizing radiation masking devicewhereby, prior to the optical duplicating process by the laser light 7,an ionizing radiation to which the photosensitive material 2 issensitive, such as ultraviolet light, is applied to a region of thephotosensitive material 2 other than a region where a hologram image isto be recorded, thereby effecting trimming (i.e. the region that is notused for duplication is sufficiently exposed to the light so as to loseits photosensitivity to the laser light 7).

It should be noted that it is necessary to provide an ionizing radiationirradiator for lowering the adhesion of the photosensitive material film1 when delaminated from the original plate 5 after the opticalduplicating process has been carried out by the laser light 7 asdescribed above. For this purpose, the whole surface of thephotosensitive material film 1 should preferably be irradiated withultraviolet light by using an ultraviolet irradiator installeddownstream the laser exposure part, which is different from theultraviolet irradiator for trimming. With a view to lowering theadhesion of the original plate 5, it is preferable that the surface ofthe original plate 5 with which the photosensitive material film 1 is tocome in close contact should be subjected to release treatment inadvance by using a fluorine-containing releasing agent, asilicone-containing releasing agent, etc.

Incidentally, if one end of the photosensitive material film 1 is merelypulled up from the original plate 5 when the photosensitive materialfilm 1 is to be delaminated, a peel rate difference is produced in theplane of the photosensitive material film 1, resulting in peelunevenness, e.g. an undesired line, along the peel front at a positionwhere the delamination stops or the peel rate is low. Thus, theduplicate which has been favorably made so far becomes defective. Morespecifically, if the photosensitive material film 1 is pulled up fromone end thereof, as shown in FIG. 4(a), it is first delaminated rapidlyas far as the position 1, shown in the figure, where the delaminationsuspends. Then, the photosensitive material film 1 is delaminatedrapidly as far as the position 2. If such discontinuous delamination iscarried out, undesired lines occur on the photosensitive material film 1at the positions 1 and 2. To prevent the occurrence of such lines, thephotosensitive material film 1 should preferably be delaminatedsequentially while being pressed with a roller 18, as shown in FIG.4(b), in the same way as in the case where the photosensitive materialfilm 1 is laminated on the original plate 5 FIG. 2(b)!.

In the photosensitive material film 1 delaminated in this way, thesurface of the photosensitive material 2 is exposed. Therefore, it isnecessary in order to take up the photosensitive material film 1effectively to laminate a protective film on the photosensitivematerial-side surface of the photosensitive material film 1.Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 4(b), a protective film 20 having anadhesive layer or pressure-sensitive adhesive layer on one side thereofis laminated on the delaminated photosensitive material film 1, with theadhesive or pressure-sensitive adhesive layer facing toward the film 1,through a roller 19 rotating in reverse relation to the roller 18. Inthis case, an ionizing radiation treatment may be needed after theprotective film 20 has been laminated on the photosensitive materialfilm 1 in order to raise the adhesion. In such a case, an ionizingradiation irradiator must be provided. It should be noted that thephotosensitive material film 1 can be made into a seal typephotosensitive material film by using a protective film 20 having highrelease properties.

Although the continuous film laminating and delaminating systemaccording to the present invention has been described above by way of anexample in which it is applied to a hologram duplicating apparatus, itshould be noted that the present invention may also be applied to otherapparatuses, for example, a dimple relief pattern duplicating apparatusin which the original plate 5 is a plate having a dimple relief patternof a diffraction grating, a Fresnel lens, etc., and the film 1 is a filmhaving a resin layer, e.g. an ultraviolet-curing resin layer, which iscapable of duplicating the relief pattern. It is also possible to applythe present invention to a microscopic test sample preparing apparatusin which a substrate is used as the original plate 5, and a microscopicspecimen such as a microbe specimen is placed on the substrate. Further,a film having a transparent pressure-sensitive adhesive layer is used asthe film 1. The microscopic specimen is buried in the transparentpressure-sensitive adhesive layer, thereby preparing a sample.

As will be clear from the foregoing description, the present inventionprovides a continuous film laminating and delaminating system whichincludes a film supply part for supplying a film, a film laminating partfor continuously laminating the supplied film on a film laminatingsubstrate, a film delaminating part for continuously delaminating thefilm from the film laminating substrate, and a film take-up part fortaking up the delaminated film.

In this case, it is preferable that the above-described film should havea base film stacked on one side thereof, and a base film peeling partfor peeling the base film from the film supplied from the film supplypart should be provided between the film supply part and the filmlaminating part, and that a protective film laminating part forsequentially laminating a protective film on the exposed surface of thefilm delaminated from the film laminating substrate should be providedbetween the film delaminating part and the film take-up part.

The present invention may be applied to a hologram duplicatingapparatus. That is, a photosensitive material film which is composed ofa photosensitive material and a pair of base films attached to bothsides of the photosensitive material is used as the above-describedfilm, and a hologram original plate to be duplicated is used as the filmlaminating substrate. The base film peeling part is disposed so as topeel the base film from a side of the photosensitive material film whichis to face the hologram original plate. Moreover, the system is providedwith an optical hologram duplicating part for optically duplicating ahologram image of the hologram original plate onto the photosensitivematerial film which is laminated on the hologram original plate. Withthis arrangement, it is possible to effect favorable duplication of ahologram.

In the above-described hologram duplicating apparatus, the hologramoriginal plate to be duplicated is fixed on the cylindrical surface of acylinder, and the hologram surface of the hologram original plate isprotected by a substrate having release properties. The hologramoriginal plate to be duplicated is preferably composed of a releaselayer, a protective substrate, an adhesive layer, a hologram layer, anadhesive layer, a protective substrate, a light-absorbing layer, and anadhesive layer (and the cylinder), which are partly or entirely stackedin the mentioned order. Alternatively, the hologram original plate ispreferably composed of a release layer, a protective substrate, anadhesive layer, a hologram layer, an adhesive layer, a protectivesubstrate, a light-absorbing layer, an adhesive layer, a colored glass(sheet), and an adhesive layer (and the cylinder), which are partly orentirely stacked in the mentioned order.

The hologram original plate may be arranged such that the hologram layerincludes a plurality of layers having different wavelengths or angles ofdiffraction, and barrier layers are provided between these layers andbetween the hologram layer and layers overlying and underlying it.

It is preferable to provide at least either a cleaning gum roller forremoving foreign matter from the photosensitive material film suppliedfrom the film supply part, or a static eliminator for preventingadsorption of foreign matter by static electricity.

Further, it is preferable to provide a trimming device for irradiatingthe photosensitive material film with light in a pattern to which thephotosensitive material film is sensitive at the same time as or beforethe optical duplicating process is carried out in the optical hologramduplicating part, thereby making the photosensitive material film loseits photosensitivity in the pattern of the applied light.

It is also possible to provide a uniform exposure device for reducingthe adhesion of the photosensitive material film to the hologramoriginal plate after the optical duplicating process has been carriedout in the optical hologram duplicating part.

It is preferable that the protective film should have an adhesive layeror a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer on one side thereof, and that inthe protective film laminating part the protective film should belaminated on the exposed surface of the film delaminated from the filmlaminating substrate with the adhesive or pressure-sensitive adhesivelayer facing toward the exposed surface.

It is also possible to provide an ionizing radiation irradiating partfor applying an ionizing radiation to the protective film between theprotective film laminating part and the film take-up part.

In the present invention, the continuous film laminating anddelaminating system includes a film supply part for supplying a film, afilm laminating part for continuously laminating the supplied film on afilm laminating substrate, a film delaminating part for continuouslydelaminating the film from the film laminating substrate, and a filmtake-up part for taking up the delaminated film. Therefore, no airbubbles are trapped when the film is laminated on the film laminatingsubstrate, and no peel unevenness, e.g. undesired line, occurs when thefilm is delaminated from the film laminating substrate. Moreover, theseries of operations can be continuously carried out.

Still other objects and advantages of the invention will in part beobvious and will in part be apparent from the specification.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction,combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts which will beexemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope ofthe invention will be indicated in the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b) show a hologram duplicating method.

FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b) show a film laminating method according to thepresent invention.

FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b) show layer configurations usable for hologramduplicating process.

FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b) show a film delaminating method according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 5 shows the arrangement of a hologram original plate photographingoptical system in one embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 6(a) and 6(b) show the arrangement of a hologram duplicatingapparatus in one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 shows the arrangement of a hologram original plate photographingoptical system in another embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the continuous film laminating and delaminating systemaccording to the present invention will be described below. In thefollowing embodiments, the present invention is applied to a hologramduplicating apparatus.

Embodiment 1!

A Lippmann hologram (reflection hologram) original plate is photographedby using an optical system such as that shown in FIG. 5. That is, lightemitted from an Ar laser 21 is split into two light beams by ahalf-mirror 22. One light beam passes via a mirror 23 and a lens 24 soas to converge on a pinhole 25. Divergent light emanating from thepinhole 25 is incident obliquely on one side of a photosensitivematerial 26. The other light beam passes via mirrors 27 and 28 and alens 29 so as to converge on a pinhole 30, and divergent light emanatingfrom the pinhole 30 is formed into an enlarged parallel light beam by acollimating lens 31 and then incident on the other side of thephotosensitive material 26. The two light beams interfere with eachother in the photosensitive material 26, thereby recording a hologram inthe photosensitive material 26. As the photosensitive material 26,Omnidex-352 holographic recording film, manufactured by Du Pont U.S.A.,may be used. The exposure energy is 30 mJ/cm² by light of wavelength 514nm from the Ar laser 21. After the exposure, the photosensitive material26 having a hologram recorded therein is subjected to uniform exposureat 100 mJ/cm² by using a super-high pressure mercury lamp. Then, thephotosensitive material 26 is sandwiched between a pair oftriacetylcellulose films and sealed with an optical adhesive (NOA-61,manufactured by Noland U.S.A), thereby preparing a hologram originalplate 35. The surface of the hologram original plate 35 with which aduplicating photosensitive material film is to be brought into closecontact is subjected to release treatment in advance by using afluorine-containing releasing agent, a silicone-containing releasingagent, etc.

Next, the hologram original plate 35 is incorporated into a duplicatingapparatus such as that shown in FIG. 6(a). In this apparatus, as aduplicating photosensitive material film 1, Omnidex-352 holographicrecording film having a triple-layer configuration which is composed ofa base film 3, a photosensitive material 2 and a base film 4, as shownin a sectional view in part 1 of FIG. 6(b), is used. As a protectivefilm 50, a protective film which is composed, as shown in a sectionalview in part 3 of FIG. 6(b), of a PET (polyethylene terephthalate) 51 of50 μm in thickness, an optical adhesive (NOA-61, manufactured by NolandU.S.A.) 52 of 1 μm in thickness, and a PET 53 of 50 μm in thickness isused.

The arrangement of the duplicating apparatus, together with theoperation thereof, will be explained below. A supply roller 32 has theduplicating photosensitive material film 1 set thereon. The film 1 isdelivered from the supply roller 32 and cleaned through cleaning rollers44 which constitute a pair of nip rollers. Then, the base film 3 ispeeled off from one side of the film 1 by base film peeling rollers 33which constitute another pair of nip rollers. The peeled base film 3 istaken up by a take-up roller 34. Meanwhile, the film 1 having thephotosensitive material surface exposed is laminated on an originalplate cylinder 35 by a pressure roller 37.

Thereafter, projection exposure is carried out by applying ultravioletlight 46 from a super-high pressure mercury lamp (not shown) through aphoto-mask, thereby shielding only the central portion of the laminateregion of the photosensitive material 2, and exposing the peripheralportion, exclusive of the central portion, at a dose rate of 30 mJ/cm²,and thus making the peripheral portion lose its photosensitivity. Inthis way, trimming (masking) is carried out.

Next, Ar laser light 47 which is in conjugate relation to the laserlight used in the original plate photographing process is applied to theoriginal plate cylinder 35 from the film side (dose rate: 30 mJ/cm²) toeffect duplication.

Next, the photosensitive material film 1 is delaminated from theoriginal plate cylinder 35 by a delaminating roller 37'. Thephotosensitive material film 1 is subjected to ultraviolet exposure by aUV exposure part 46' which is provided between the laser exposure partand the delaminating roller 37' to carry out uniform ultravioletexposure, thereby facilitating the delamination of the film 1.

Next, a protective film 50 with an adhesive layer 52 is laminated on thephotosensitive material side of the photosensitive material film 1 by alaminating roller 38 which constitutes another pair of nip rollers incombination with the delaminating roller 37'. At this time, the basefilm 51 (PET of 50 μm in thickness) of the protective film 50 suppliedfrom a supply roller 40 is peeled off by a peeling roller 39 and takenup by a take-up roller 41.

The photosensitive material film 1 having the protective film 50laminated thereon enters an ultraviolet irradiator 42 through anotherpair of nip rollers 54 for transport. In the ultraviolet irradiator 42,the photosensitive material film 1 is exposed to ultraviolet light froma super-high pressure mercury lamp at 100 mJ/cm², and thereafter thefilm 1 is taken up by a take-up roller 43. It should be noted that anantistatic device is provided for each of the peeling rollers 33 and 39to eliminate static electricity generated at these rollers.

In the above-described apparatus, the layer configurations of thephotosensitive material film 1, the protective film 50 and the laminateof these films 1 and 50 at 1 to 5 in FIG. 6(a) are such as those shownin parts 1 to 5 of FIG. 6(b). It should be noted that by peeling off thebase film 53 from the final product cut into a sheet, the duplicatehologram can be bonded to an article as a hologram seal.

The hologram duplicating apparatus having the above-describedarrangement enables favorable duplicate holograms to be continuously andefficiently produced without causing duplicating defects due to foreignmatter such as dust particles and air bubbles and without peelunevenness.

Embodiment 2!

A full-color Lippmann hologram (reflection hologram) original plate isproduced by using an optical system such as that shown in FIG. 7. First,with one base film peeled off therefrom, Omnidex-705 holographicrecording film, manufactured by Du Pont U.S.A., is laminated on a glass(original plate protective glass) of 5 mm in thickness which has beensubjected to release treatment. Thereafter, the other base film ispeeled off from the holographic recording film, and a PVA (polyvinylalcohol) film (preferably, non-oriented film) of 5 μm in thickness islaminated on the exposed surface of the holographic recording film. Theresulting stack structure is sandwiched between a pair ofanti-reflection coated glasses through an index matching liquid(preferably, xylene), thereby preparing a holographic imaging plate(photosensitive material) 26. The photosensitive material 26 is set inthe position illustrated in the figure. The optical system isapproximately similar to that shown in FIG. 5. In the optical systemshown in FIG. 7, however, three lasers are used in order to photograph afull-color hologram. That is, a Kr laser 71 (647 nm) is used as a lightsource for Red. As a light source for Green, a dye laser 72 (576 nm)with an Ar laser as an excitation laser 74 is used. In addition, an Arlaser 73 (458 nm) is used as a light source for Blue. A totallyreflecting mirror 75 and dichroic mirrors 76 and 77 are used topropagate laser lights from these three light sources along one opticalpath. In the illustrated arrangement, the dichroic mirror 76 is a rednarrow-band mirror having anti-reflection coating provided on thereverse surface thereof. The dichroic mirror 77 is a mirror that hasanti-reflection coating provided on the reverse surface thereof and thatselectively reflects only light of wavelength 500 nm or shorter.However, the arrangement of the lasers 71 to 73 is not necessarilylimited to the illustrated example but may be changed as desired. Insuch a case, it is necessary to change the arrangement and reflectionband of the totally reflecting mirror 75 and the dichroic mirrors 76 and77.

With the above-described arrangement, first, a hologram is recorded byusing only Kr laser light (647 nm). The exposure energy is 30 mJ/cm²,and after the exposure process, uniform exposure is carried out at 100mJ/cm² using a super-high pressure mercury lamp. Next, the twoanti-reflection coated glasses are removed, and the index matchingliquid is dried. Thereafter, Omnidex-705 and a PVA layer aresuccessively stacked on the surface of the PVA film by the same methodas the above, and the resulting stack structure is sandwiched between apair of anti-reflection coated glasses again, thereby preparing aholographic imaging plate 26.

With the laser light changed to dye laser light (576 nm), uniformexposure is similarly carried out at 30 mJ/cm², and then uniformexposure is carried out using a super-high pressure mercury lamp.Further, the same process as the above is repeated. With the laser lightchanged to Ar laser light (458 nm), third exposure is carried out. Afterthe uniform exposure, the anti-reflection coated glasses are removed,and the index matching liquid is dried. Thereafter, the holographicrecording film is delaminated from the glass of 5 mm in thickness, and apair of triacetylcellulose films are bonded to both sides of the filmthrough an optical adhesive (NOA-61, manufactured by Noland U.S.A.).

Further, black spray SSP spray black, manufactured by Atom Kagaku Toryo(k.k.)! is uniformly coated on the surface of one triacetylcellulosefilm and then dried to form an antihalation layer. Further, the surfaceof the other triacetylcellulose film is coated with asilicone-containing releasing agent KE42TS', manufactured by ShinetsuChemical (k.k.)! to form a release layer, thereby preparing an originalplate 35 to be duplicated.

Next, the hologram original plate 35 is incorporated into a duplicatingapparatus such as that shown in FIG. 6(a). In this apparatus, as theduplicating photosensitive material film 1, Omnidex-705 holographicrecording film having a triple-layer configuration which is composed ofa base film 3, a photosensitive material 2 and a base film 4, as shownin a sectional view in part 1 of FIG. 6(b), is used. As a protectivefilm 50, a protective film which is composed, as shown in a sectionalview in part 3 of FIG. 6(b), of a PET (polyethylene terephthalate) 51 of50 μm in thickness, an optical adhesive (NOA-61, manufactured by NolandU.S.A.) 52 of 1 μm in thickness, and a PET 53 of 50 μm in thickness isused.

The arrangement of the duplicating apparatus, together with theoperation thereof, will be explained below. A supply roller 32 has theduplicating photosensitive material film 1 set thereon. The film 1 isdelivered from the supply roller 32 and cleaned through cleaning rollers44 which constitute a pair of nip rollers. Then, the base film 3 ispeeled off from one side of the film 1 by base film peeling rollers 33which constitute another pair of nip rollers. The peeled base film 3 istaken up by a take-up roller 34. Meanwhile, the film 1 having thephotosensitive material surface exposed is laminated on an originalplate cylinder 35 by a pressure roller 37.

Thereafter, projection exposure is carried out by applying ultravioletlight 46 from a super-high pressure mercury lamp (not shown) through aphoto-mask, thereby shielding only the central portion of the laminateregion of the photosensitive material 2, and exposing the peripheralportion, exclusive of the central portion, at a dose rate of 30 mJ/cm²,and thus making the peripheral portion lose its photosensitivity. Inthis way, trimming (masking) is carried out.

Next, Ar laser light, Kr laser light and dye laser light 47, which arein conjugate relation to the laser light used in the original platephotographing process, are successively applied to the original platecylinder 35 from the film side (dose rate: 30 mJ/cm²) to effectduplication.

Next, the photosensitive material film 1 is delaminated from theoriginal plate cylinder 35 by a delaminating roller 37'. Thephotosensitive material film 1 is subjected to ultraviolet exposure by aUV exposure part 46' which is provided between the laser exposure partand the delaminating roller 37' to carry out uniform ultravioletexposure, thereby facilitating the delamination of the film 1.

Next, a protective film 50 with an adhesive layer 52 is laminated on thephotosensitive material side of the photosensitive material film 1 by alaminating roller 38 which constitutes another pair of nip rollers incombination with the delaminating roller 37'. At this time, the basefilm 51 (PET of 50 μm in thickness) of the protective film 50 suppliedfrom a supply roller 40 is peeled off by a peeling roller 39 and takenup by a take-up roller 41.

The photosensitive material film 1 having the protective film 50laminated thereon enters an ultraviolet irradiator 42 through anotherpair of nip rollers 54 for transport. In the ultraviolet irradiator 42,the photosensitive material film 1 is exposed to ultraviolet light froma super-high pressure mercury lamp at 100 mJ/cm², and thereafter thefilm 1 is taken up by a take-up roller 43. It should be noted that anantistatic device is provided for each of the peeling rollers 33 and 39to eliminate static electricity generated at these rollers.

In the above-described apparatus, the layer configurations of thephotosensitive material film 1, the protective film 50 and the laminateof these films 1 and 50 at 1 to 5 in FIG. 6(a) are such as those shownin parts 1 to 5 of FIG. 6(b). It should be noted that by peeling off thebase film 53 from the final product cut into a sheet, the duplicatehologram can be bonded to an article as a hologram seal.

Although the present invention has been described above by way ofembodiments in which the continuous film laminating and delaminatingsystem according to the present invention is applied to a hologramduplicating apparatus, it should be noted that the present invention isnot necessarily limited to these embodiments, and that various changesand modifications may be imparted thereto, and the present invention isapplicable to various other use applications.

As will be clear from the foregoing description, the continuous filmlaminating and delaminating system according to the present inventionincludes a film supply part for supplying a film, a film laminating partfor continuously laminating the supplied film on a film laminatingsubstrate, a film delaminating part for continuously delaminating thefilm from the film laminating substrate, and a film take-up part fortaking up the delaminated film. Therefore, no air bubbles are trappedwhen the film is laminated on the film laminating substrate, and no peelunevenness, e.g. undesired line, occurs when the film is delaminatedfrom the film laminating substrate. Moreover, the series of operationscan be continuously carried out. Accordingly, the system according tothe present invention is suitable for use in a hologram duplicatingapparatus, a dimple relief pattern duplicating apparatus, a microscopictest sample preparing apparatus, etc.

What we claim is:
 1. A continuous film laminating and delaminatingsystem comprising:a film supply part for supplying a photosensitivematerial film, said photosensitive material film being composed of aphotosensitive material and a pair of base films attached to both sidesof said photosensitive material; a film laminating part for continuouslylaminating said photosensitive material film on a film laminatingsubstrate, said film laminating substrate being a hologram originalplate to be duplicated; a base film peeling part for peeling one of saidpair of base films from said photosensitive material film supplied fromsaid film supply part, said base film peeling part being providedbetween said film supply part and said film laminating part and disposedso as to peel said one of said pair of base films from a side of saidphotosensitive material film which is to face said hologram originalplate; an optical hologram duplicating part for optically duplicating ahologram image of said hologram original plate onto said photosensitivematerial film which is laminated on said hologram original plate; a filmdelaminating part for continuously delaminating said photosensitivematerial film from said film laminating substrate; a film take-up partfor taking up the delaminated photosensitive material film; a protectivefilm laminating part for sequentially laminating a protective film on anexposed surface of the photosensitive material film delaminated fromsaid film laminating substrate, said protective film laminating partbeing provided between said film delaminating part and said film take-uppart; and masking means for irradiating said photosensitive materialfilm with light applied in a pattern to which said photosensitivematerial film is sensitive at the same time as or before the opticalduplicating process is carried out in said optical hologram duplicatingpart, thereby making said photosensitive material film lose itsphotosensitivity in the pattern of the applied light.
 2. A continuousfilm laminating and delaminating system comprising:a film supply partfor supplying a photosensitive material film, said photosensitivematerial film being composed of a photosensitive material and a pair ofbase films attached to both sides of said photosensitive material; afilm laminating part for continuously laminating said photosensitivematerial film on a film laminating substrate, said film laminatingsubstrate being a hologram original plate to be duplicated; a base filmpeeling part for peeling one of said pair of base films from saidphotosensitive material film supplied from said film supply part, saidbase film peeling part being provided between said film supply part andsaid film laminating part and disposed so as to peel said one of saidpair of base films from a side of said photosensitive material filmwhich is to face said hologram original plate; an optical hologramduplicating part for optically duplicating a hologram image of saidhologram original plate onto said photosensitive material film which islaminated on said hologram original plate; a film delaminating part forcontinuously delaminating said photosensitive material film from saidfilm laminating substrate; a film take-up part for taking up thedelaminated photosensitive material film; a protective film laminatingpart for sequentially laminating a protective film on an exposed surfaceof the photosensitive material film delaminated from said filmlaminating substrate, said protective film laminating part beingprovided between said film delaminating part and said film take-up part;and uniform exposure means for reducing adhesion of said photosensitivematerial film to said hologram original plate after the opticalduplicating process has been carried out in said optical hologramduplicating part.
 3. A continuous film laminating and delaminatingsystem comprising:a film supply part for supplying a photosensitivematerial film, said photosensitive material film being composed of aphotosensitive material and a pair of base films attached to both sidesof said photosensitive material; a film laminating part for continuouslylaminating said photosensitive material film on a film laminatingsubstrate, said film laminating substrate being a hologram originalplate to be duplicated; a base film peeling part for peeling one of saidpair of base films from said photosensitive material film supplied fromsaid film supply part, said base film peeling part being providedbetween said film supply part and said film laminating part and disposedso as to peel said one of said pair of base films from a side of saidphotosensitive material film which is to face said hologram originalplate; an optical hologram duplicating part for optically duplicating ahologram image of said hologram original plate onto said photosensitivematerial film which is laminated on said hologram original plate; a filmdelaminating part for continuously delaminating said photosensitivematerial film from said film laminating substrate; a film take-up partfor taking up the delaminated photosensitive material film; a protectivefilm laminating part for sequentially laminating a protective film on anexposed surface of the photosensitive material film delaminated fromsaid film laminating substrate, said protective film laminating partbeing provided between said film delaminating part and said film take-uppart; and an ionizing radiation irradiating part for applying anionizing radiation to said protective film, said ionizing radiationirradiating part being provided between said protective film laminatingpart and said film take-up part.